Blackburn: ‘Dreamers’ program adding to border crisis

WASHINGTON – Rep. Marsha Blackburn called Wednesday for stripping funding from an Obama administration program that defers deportations of undocumented youth brought to the United States by their parents.

A Nashville pro-immigration group said it saw political opportunism in her move.

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program applies to undocumented youth who have lived in the United States since June 15, 2007 and are pursuing an education or are in the military. They are often referred to as “dreamers.” They also have to stay clear of criminal activity.

The president announced the program in June 2012 in the middle of his re-election campaign against Republican Mitt Romney.

In introducing a bill to defund DACA, Blackburn, R-Brentwood, said it has contributed to the border crisis involving undocumented children fleeing to the United States from Central America.

“Central American children have fled to the United States based on a false hope that they will be allowed to remain permanently,” she said in a statement.

“This false hope created by the Obama Administration is putting children’s lives in danger as they are escorted by individuals who have been known to abuse these children during their journey and even leave some for dead.”

Blackburn said she has already been contacted by dozens of lawmakers who want to co-sponsor her bill.

But the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition denounced the proposed legislation, saying DACA has proven “overwhelmingly positive and successful” since President Barack Obama enacted it through executive order, responding to congressional inaction on immigration reform.

“Representative Blackburn's use of the crisis in Central America to further her own ongoing anti-immigrant agenda demonstrates a serious lack of compassion and crude political opportunism at its worst,” said Stephanie Teatro, interim co-director of the coalition.